Water-tower and elevator.



N v PATENTED AUG-.414 1908.'

s. GERMAN. v I

. WATERTOWER AND ELEVATOR..." 1

I APPLIOATION FILED JUNE 4, 1907.

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APPLICATION FILED JUNE 4, 1901.

l SOLOMON GE MAN, or MONKTON, MARYLAND.

WATERTOWER AND ELEVATOR- I No. 895,008.

I T all whom' 'it may concerni Be it known that I, SoLo1\roN GERMAN, citizen of the United States, residing at Monkton, in the county of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veter- Towers and Elevators, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to fire extinguishing apparatus and particularly to. a combined water tower and elevator, designed not onl to be used for the same purposes for whic the ordinary and heretofore constructed water towers are intended, to wit, directing a stream of water on a burning building or the like, from an elevated point of vantage, but

also useful in elevating the firemen to the upper stories of burning buildings without the use or necessity of ladders or ladder trucks, and adapted also to earr u to the said upper floors or windows 0 a urning building, a flexible ladder or ladders and one or more lines -of hose in addition to the ordinary swivel and main nozzle, thereby combimn in the one apparatus many and diversi red useful features, and doing away not only withthe cost of purchasing and maintaining several apparatus, but also avoiding the interference'which is often an incident to the successful fighting of flames, where several independent or separate pieces of I fire apparatus obstruct one another in their pro er work.

Tne invention consists in certain constructions, arrangements, and combinations of parts that I shall hereinafter fully describe and then point out the novel features in the appended claims.

Fora full understandin of the invention and the merits thereof an also to acquire a knowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result, reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which: t

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form or embodiment of my invention, the water tower and elevator being shown in extended position. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the apparatus in retracted or lowered condition. ig. 3 is an enlarged vertical sectional view, with parts in side elevation, and other parts broken awa of the tower and elevator. Fig. 4 is a etail sectional view illustrating the automatic interlockin joint between two adjacent telescoping tu es of the tower.

- Fig. 5 is a detail horizontal sectional view on Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed June 4, 1907. Serial No. 317,225.

.said valve, said nozzle bein the line 55 of- Fig. 4. Fig.6 is-a detail vertical sectional view illustratinga slightly modified construction of the automatic in terlocking joint. Fig. '7 is a detail view illustrating a modified form of tower that may be employed, and which is hereinafter specifically referred to.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

My water tower and firemans elevator combined, comprises a plurality of telescoping tubular sections 1 of an desired number, diameter and length, t to several sections bein provided at their lower ends with suitable packing, either of a permanent, detachable, or adjustable character, designed to secure a non-leaking joint. It'is intended that the towershall be extended by some fluid motive power, either air, or water, preferably the latter, and for this purpose the base section of the tower is provided with any desired number of couplings'3, to which hose or other flexible connections may be attached leading from the water plug or other similar source of supply, and from a water or other motor, as may be desired. Preferably two or more of these pipe couplings 3 are provided, so that one source ofpower may be utilized if another should prove deficient or unavailable.

The n permost section of the tower carries a va ved plu or'similar cut-ofi 4 and a preferably metallic swivel nozzle 5 above the adapted to serve the purpose of the usual turned and remaining stationary in any adjusted position so as to direct the stream of Patented Aug. 4, 1908.

water tower and nozzle, and being susceptible of bemg' by one or more firemen standing on t e platform hereinafter described. In order to permit the tower to be lowered, one of the sections, preferably the base section, is provided with a drain cock 9.

Each sect-ion 1 carries at its upper end a. collar 10, screwed or otherwise secured thereto, and each collar is formed with a ball race in which a series of balls or other anti-friction devices 11 is mounted, so as to bear against the next adjacent section and reduce the friction to minimum.

In order to auton'iatically lock the several sections securely in extended position, I ro vide a-serie-s of automatically acting loc ing devices which may be ofany desired number and construction, and which in the present instance arein the form of locking blocks 13, carried within recesses in the respective collars l0, and adapted to be automatically pressed our in the recesses 12 in the tubular sections 1 when the respective sectlonsreach the limit of their extension movementr These blocks 13 may be two in number,jfor*each collar, and may be located at diametrically opposite points, and may be pressed inwardly by means of substantial coil springs 15, encircling the outwardl rejecting stems 14 that are secured to t e liloeks 13, and that project outwardly through the collar as shown The stems 14 are provided at their outer ends with handles, by which the locking dew-ices may be retracted to permit the de ression of the tower and elevator.

If (esimed, I may employ, as a slightly modified form of these automatic locking devices, an annular spring 13 fitting in an annular recess in the inner section of two sections at a joint, and adapted to pass and snap outwardly over screws 14 which project inwardly through the collar In order that the several sections may be held at different adjusted points with respect to each other, that is, before the limit of extension tower so as to shall have been reached, I may provide a pair of clamps 16 in the collar 10 at diametrically o posite points betweenfthe auto matic loc 7 g devices, said clamps being provided with swiveled adjusting screws 17 rojecting inwardly through the collar, as est seen in 5, and being also preferably roughened on their inner faces, and curved to extend partially around the inner section of rovide a secure and broad bearing surface or the clamping action.

In order that the apparatus may respond uickly to a fire, it being intended that it 5 tall answer the first alarm, rather than be used as an emergency apparatus, the apparatus is mounted u on a wheeled vehicle 18 which is preferab of the low down variety, with the ed projecting sidewise over the traveling wheels. The base or lowermositsection 1 of the tower is formed with a bail head 19, fitting within the socket piece 20 that is fastened to the bed of the vehicle in any desired way, this ball and socket connection or mounting of the tower and elevator on the vehicle ermitting said tower to he swung in any irection, either towards o away from the buildin that is, in a direction transverse to the ength of the vehicile. or in a direction more or less in a line with the vehicle, when, for example,

it is desired to train the several nozzles, or

principally the nozzle 5 upon any one'ol' a senes of windows on the same floor.

traveling towards'and from the fire, the tower is usually held in an upright position, so that no time need be lost in raising the tower upwardly after the scene of conflagration has been reached, and in the present instance, I have shown, for the purpose of holding the a series'of diverging props, each *of which consists of a member 21 secured )ivotally at one end to the base section of t- 1e tower and another member 22 in which the memtower in'any desired direction when elevated, 1

her 21 telescopes, the several members 22 v p w being secured to the bed of the vehicle in any deslred manner.

Clamps 23 which may be of any design or construction are designed tobind the twosections 21 and 22 together at their proper extended position, to hold the tower securely.

As has been before indicated, it is my purpose to have thetower and firemans elevator leaned towards the burning building after the apparatus has reached the scene, and to also have the device susceptible of being swung in a direction coincident with the length of the vehicle, which is, for instance, drawn up along side of the curb. For the pur mm of leaning or inclim'n the tower and e evator in either of these irections or for obtainin the roper inclination,-

in any direction on the ba 1 and socket joint before set forth, I have provided two winches 24 and 25 mounted on the bed of the vehicle 18 and referably at right angles to each other. 11 the resent instance, for example, I have selected the rear end of the vehicle for the winch 24 and one adjacent side for the-winch 25. A cable 26 is secured to the base section 1, or other desired portion of the tower, and passes under and around the pulley 27 secured to the bed of the vehicle as shown. This cable then winds in one direction around the winch 24. Another cable 28 is also secured to the tower and diverges from the cable 26 and asses under and around another pulley 29, eing finally wound around the winch 24 in a direction reverse. to the direction of winding the cable 26. Hence it will be understood thatby winding the winch in one direction the cable 26 wille wound up on the winch, while the cable 28 is unwound therefrom, such 0 eration cfi'ectinga swinging movement 0 the tower away from the buildin A cable 30 is secured to the and a similar cable 32 is secured to the tower and diverges downwardly from the cable 30 which is at that time on the right hand si e of the vehiby winding and extends around the pulley 33 being finally wound around the winch in a direction 0 posite to the direction of winding the cable 30. Hence, it will be seen that the winch '25 in one direction or the other, the tower may be leaned either rearwardl Y or forwardly. By manipulating both of the winches any inclination ofthe tower may be effected.

In addition to its function as a water tower, it is to be understood that my apparatus combines the usefulness of an elevator adated to raise the firemen to the desired heig itand to then have the. tower lean towards the building so that the firemen may enter upon one or the other of the floors.

. For this purpose a platform 34 is supported the firemen ma- Fi 2 illustrates'the fact that be raised on the platform with the fire fignting apparatus, and Fig. 1 illustrates the apparatus at the limit of its extension, with the firemen standing on the platform. The platform 34 is provided with a railing 35, T 1e platform 34 is pivotally mounted upon he up tower, so as to l in one plane) s manifestly essential, so that the platform may he held in a jsugstantially horizontal position, irrespecti f the inclination of the tower necessary t "bring the platform to a osition where the reinen may pass thereby the tower.

ermost se ction of the out a horizontal axis rom into the windo\ oiiithe like.

In order to swing t e platform 34 to the proper plane as regards t iei tower when the tower is inclined, and to libld the platform at the proper adjustment relativeto the tower, I have provided the'followingparts: A collar 37 is clamped around the uppermost section 1 and formed with a curved locking bar 38 which preferably extends up through a .slot in the platform and which is provided with 'a series of sockets or apertures 39. A lever 40 is fulcrumed on a brace 34 secured to and its pivot, and said lever is depending from the platform at one side of ivotally mounted on the same pivot as the p atform and is provided atone end with a sleeve 41 which receives the curved locking bar 38 and which is provided with an aperture through which the ocking detent 42 projects so as to penetrate or pass through one of the sockets or apertures 39. The free end of the detent and the free end of the lever extend across the pivot pointof the latform and u wardly through the latter, as est shown in ig. 3, so that any fireman may retract the detent, and positively or manually swing the platform to its required adjustment, and then may release the detent so as to effect a locking engagement between the lever (and platform) and the locking bar 38.

In order thatthe firemen may carry a line a of hose into the burning building from an elevated floor, without the necessity of laborix i ously climbing the ladder: a reel 43 is mounted on one side of the vehicle bed, and a hose 44 is adapted to unwind from the said reel, as

the tower and elevator are extended upwardly, the said hose carryin a nozzle 45 and being provided, preferably just below. a

the nozzle, with a snap hook 46, adapted to be cau ht into a loop 47 projecting from one edge of the platform 34. 7

It is obvious that it may become necessary for firemen to ascend or descend from the platform 34 after the latter has been elevated, and I have therefore mounted a ladder reel 48 on the vehicle bed. A flexible ladder 49 preferably of asbestos and wire'in tertwined, is desi ned to unwind from said reel- 48, as the platform 34 is carried upwardly, the upper end of said ladder being provided with i ooks 50 taking into eyes 51 rojecting from another edge of the platorm 34. 52 designates uys that may be secured in any way in the platform and which may in holding the devices in a perfectly rigid position, when either elevated or lowered.

As illustrated in Fig. 7, I may provide each be used in an evident manner to assist tubular section of the tower, preferably just v 1 below the collar at the upper end thereof and below the next adjacent inner section when the sections are extended, with an outlet 5 v to which may be attached a monitor nozzle with a handle for manipulating the same, or a hose, as desired. This is for the purpose of 'suppl ing a stream of water to the fire that may e below the oint to which the tower has been raised.

tower from which a fire may be fought from various heights simultaneously.

From the foregoing description in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided a very efficient fire fighting apparatus which combines a. water tower with an elevator for raising firemen and their fire fighting accessories to an elevated position where their work can be y this arrangement, it will be noted that I have provided a water effectively accomplished, and that by the use of myapparatus, several pieces of appa-X ratus can be dispensed sideratuni, because it not onlyef'fects econonnes in the cost and maintenance of a fire department, but promotes the efiiciency of the same.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an extensible water tower, means for extending the same, an elevating platform carried by the tower and mounted to tilt thereon about ah rizontal axis, a locking bar carried by the tower,

with, this being a deand a hand lever pivotally connected to the\ axis of the platform and to the latter at one side of the axis, the free end of said lever extending upwardly through the platform at the'opp'osite side of said axis, said lever being provided with a detent designed for locking engagement with the locking bar.

2. In an apparatus of the character dc scribed, the combination of an extensible water tower, a platform carried thereby, means for extending thetower, the platform being pivotally mounted. on the tower to swing about a horizontal axis thereon, a curved locking bar secured to the tower and projecting therefrom, a pivoted locking lever connected to the platform, and a detent carried by the locking lever and designed for locking engagement with the locking bar.

3. In an apparatus of the character de-- scribed, the combination of an extensible water tower, a platform carried thereby,

means for extending the tower, the platform being pivotally mounted on the tower to swingabout a horizontal axis thereon, a locking bar secured to the tower andprojecting outwardly and upwardly therefrom, the tower being formed with a slot through which the upwardly extending portion of the locking bar projects, alocking lever pivotally connected to the platform at the axis thereof, the platform being formed with a slot through which one arm of said lever extends uplwardly, the locking bar being formed wit a series of apertures and the le' ver being formed with a sleeve encircling the locking bar, and a detent pivotally mounted on the lever and having one end arranged to extend through the sleeve into locking engagement with any of the apertures of the locking bar.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, an extensible water tower comprising telescopic sections, a support therefor, a universal joint connection between the lowermost section of the tower and the support, winches mounted on the support, two diverging cables for each winch secured to the lowermost section of the tower and winding in opposite directions on the cooperating winch, and pulleys mounted on the sup )ort and with which the divergent portions 0 the cables are engaged, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, an extensible water tower comprising telescopic sections, a' support therefor, a universal joint connection between the tower and the support, winches mounted on the substantially at right angles toeach other, two pairs of diverging cables secured to the lowermost section of the tower and winding iii-opposite directions on the respe tive winches, and pulleys mounted on the su port and with which the divergent port-i0 of the cablesdiave engagement, as and for the purpose set forth. 1

6. In an apparatus of the character described, a waterftower comprising a seriestof telescoping sections, ineans fo r automat ically locking said sections in extended position, said means consisting of spring pressed elements, the several sections being provided with recesses for the reception of said elements, and means for manually retracting said elements from tlierecesses. i

7. In an apparatusof the character described, a water tower comprising a series of telescoping sect-ions, means for automatic all locking said sectionsiin extended posi--. tion, said means consisting of inwardly spring pressed blocks, the several sections being provided. with recessesin which the blocks are adapted to spring, and means for retracting said blocks from the recesses.

8. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a series of telescoping tubular sections, means for extending said sections, and curved clamps extending through the respective sections into engage ment with the next adjacent inner section, and adapted to hold the sections at difl'erent' extended positions, the said clamps being provided with roughened inner faces and g with swiveled actuating screws, substantially as shown and described.

9. An apparatus of the character described, comprising a series of telescoping tubular sections, means for extending said sections, means for automatically limiting the outward movement of said sections with respect to each other, and manually operable clamps extending through the respective sections into frictional engagement with the next adjacent inner section whereby the sec- 1( tions may be held at any desired extension short of the automatic limiting ineans.

In testimony whereof I allix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SOLOMON GERMAN. Witnesses:

Enn. R. DENHARD, V. H. RIDDLE. 

